They walked out of the Generals mansion and rode their horses towards the courtyard where Xu Haifeng lived.

  "Little brother, little brother, Im really envious of you." Fang Mings face was full of discontent: "No way, you have to treat us tonight no matter what."

  "Hey big brother, dont just talk about me, didnt you also get promoted?" Xǔ Hǎifēng said with a smile.

  "How can this be compared? I was 17 years old when I joined the army, and it wasnt until four years ago that I was promoted to deputy general. Thats a whole fourteen springs of grinding in the military camp!" In fact, there is another sentence that Feng Ming didnt say: he spent 14 years in the military camp, but the most important thing is that his family background is prominent, and there are people in the court who helped him build bridges and pave roads. Otherwise, even if it were 24 years, its not necessarily possible to be promoted to a general officer position."

  Hehe, with a smile, Xu Haifeng thickened his face and said: "Brothers meaning is that he was promoted to deputy general in just four years, which is an official position that can command tens of thousands of people. Brother is awesome."

  A deputy general can only govern 3,000 to 5,000 people, while a Wanren Chang is already a deputy general. Those who command more than 10,000 troops are generals. The commanders of each regiment in the five major legions are generals, and their deputies are deputy generals. Only a Shang Jiang Jun can serve as the overall commander of the five major legions. Fang Xiang Ming was able to rise to become a deputy general commanding 10,000 troops, thanks to his outstanding military achievements in one battle.

  "Hmph, I used 18 years to become a deputy general, compared to you becoming a general in just half a year is much slower." Fang Xiangming sneered: "Do you know that since the founding of our great Han dynasty, your promotion has been the fastest, not daring to say there wont be anyone after you, but absolutely unprecedented before. If youre still not satisfied, we can both go and cut off our own heads."

  These past few days, the two had gotten along famously, despite their significant age difference, and were as close as brothers. As for his joking ridicule, Xu Haifeng naturally wouldnt take it to heart, laughing: "Big brother, with your wealth and status, dont bother trying to swindle this small amount of money from me."

  Fang Xiangming, the eldest son and grandson of one of the four great families of the Great Han, naturally wouldnt put that paltry 10,000 taels of silver in his eyes. He laughed and scolded, "Tonight Ill host a banquet at Drunken Moon Tower to celebrate our brothers promotion and wealth."

  "I wont go." Xu Haifeng said resolutely.

  Seeing Xu Haifeng shake his head and refuse, Fang Xiang asked strangely: "Why?"

  "These next few days are crucial, Im preparing to strike while the iron is hot, selecting all personnel and equipment carefully. Big brother really wants me to come, three months later, well meet at Drunken Moon Tower."

  "Alright, then after March, lets get drunk together again, brothers."

  Xu Haifeng nodded in approval and then said: "Big brother, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "As long as it is within my power, I will brave scalding water and walk through fire without hesitation."

  "Its not that serious, Im new to this position and dont understand the personnel arrangement in the brigade at all, youd better give me some guidance."

  "Its a small matter, come to my place and Ill tell you everything in detail, tomorrow you can go select people."

  On the second day, Xu Haifeng arrived at the main camp. Gu Daoxus orders were more effective than imperial edicts by three points here. No matter what Xu Haifeng asked for, whether it was people or supplies, no one dared to make things difficult for him in the slightest. Especially the logistics department, which had the most abundant resources, not only provided him with the best equipment but also gave him several hundred kilograms of dried meat as a bonus. Even when Xu Haifeng made an outrageous request for wine and water, they handed it over with strange expressions on their faces. After Xu Haifeng left, the logistics officers whispered to each other in private, wondering what kind of relationship this young man had with the commander-in-chief that he dared to do something so openly defiant of military regulations. Little did they know, Xu Haifeng was just a newly appointed general and didnt even know there was such a thing as a ban on drinking in the army.

  Under Qin Yongs accompaniment, Xu Haifeng selected three thousand slave soldiers. Their mental state was extremely poor, their clothes were tattered and worn out, their faces were pale and thin, and most importantly, they all had no identity.

  Yes, the slave soldiers are all slaves, they are inferior people who do not deserve to have status. Since most of them are made up of criminals and surrendered soldiers, it is necessary that they cannot eat their fill, otherwise if they are full, will they not have the energy to plot a rebellion? Their treatment is the worst in the whole army, but what they do is the hardest, dirtiest and most tiring work, with a high mortality rate all along. Only because the empires territory is vast, there are absolutely many criminals and captives, so their camp is often overcrowded, giving Hai Feng a lot of room for selection.

  Looking at this group of listless men, Xu Haifeng also furrowed his brow. He had chosen these people out of desperation. To achieve combat effectiveness within three months, there was only one method - the Blood Wine. The problem was that although the Blood Wine was incredibly effective, its aftereffects were just as pronounced.

  The greatest effect of blood wine is to preserve human consciousness while damaging the pain nerves in the body. Once the pain nerves are damaged, people can no longer feel pain, so they can be fearless on the battlefield. In the era of cold weapons, warriors were often not directly killed by the enemy, but after being injured, they would experience various fears and negative emotions due to the pain from their wounds, making treatment more difficult. Once injured, combat effectiveness on the battlefield would greatly decrease, or even completely lose combat effectiveness. For example, if someones arm was cut off on the battlefield, they would basically faint from pain. In the midst of battle, it is hard for people who are unconscious to attract attention, and most people die this way. However, when the pain nerves disappear, even if an arm is gone, they can still continue fighting as if nothing happened. The enhancement of combat effectiveness is only one aspect; more importantly, such actions would put immense psychological pressure on the enemy, easily causing them to collapse completely.

  Behind the powerful effect, there is an irreparable flaw, that is flexibility. All those who have drunk blood wine, although their intelligence and memory have not changed much, but they are extremely lacking in flexibility and initiative. If they dont receive orders, they basically do nothing unless they are harmed. The over 100 people who survived came for so long, with a single order from Xu Haifeng, indeed no one left the courtyard. To outsiders, it seemed that Xu Haifeng was strict in his military discipline, but he knew that these people had simply lost interest in everything and could only become a powerful war machine after receiving orders.

  When soldiers have a certain age limit, they must retire when the time comes, but those who drink blood wine cant think of having this treatment. Their character is not conspicuous in the army, but it will definitely attract attention when they arrive at their destination. Therefore, Xu Haifeng had to give up re-enlisting and new recruits, and specifically selected slave soldiers. Slave soldiers have no status or identity, and even if they die, no one will care, let alone speak out for them. They struggled in the slave camp, and their final outcome was also difficult to escape death. In fact, entering a slave camp is basically a dead end, with a saying that "you cant leave until you die", referring to the slave camp. As long as you enter, its almost impossible to come out alive. Rather than living in such a miserable way, its better to join Xu Haifengs army, at least theres good wine and meat for every meal, even if you die, you can die with dignity.

  "Report to General Bao, General Tong requests an audience."

  Along with Xu Haifeng came 123 people, who were formed into the Imperial Guard. According to what he learned yesterday, Xu Haifeng sent them out to tidy up the troops. These slave soldiers need to be fed for a few days first, otherwise they cant even be trained. Fortunately, everyone has received orders and given him some young and healthy slaves. If it were a group of old, weak, sickly and disabled people, then Xu Haifeng wouldnt even need to train them, he could just go back and resign directly. The one who came to report earlier was one of the Imperial Guards.

  "Quickly, no, Ill go myself." Xu Haifeng took three steps in two strides to the hall and indeed saw Tóng Yīfēng sitting upright in a chair, waiting for him to appear.

  "General Tong is safe." Xu Haifeng cupped his hands and said, at this moment he was also a deputy general, no need to perform subordinate rituals again.

  "Congratulations to General Xu on his promotion." Tong Yifeng saw the host arrive and quickly stood up to return the courtesy.

  "Its nothing but a temporary stroke of luck, not worth mentioning."

  "General Xu was young and promising, his future achievements will be boundless, I am eagerly waiting to see that day." Tong Yifeng said with a smile.

  "I dont dare... I dont dare..." Xu Haifeng saw that he didnt mention the matter he had entrusted him with, and couldnt help but show a look of anxiety on his face, but also didnt think it was good to ask about it at this point.

  Yesterday, when he returned to the courtyard, Xu Haifeng found Tong Yifeng and took out the 10,000 taels of silver tickets he had just received. He asked him to help buy 100 jars of Drunken Moon wine. This matter was extremely important for him, and he couldnt afford to be careless in the slightest, so he naturally worried about it.

  Because Xu Haifeng didnt reveal his promotion in yesterdays conversation, Tong Yifeng only found out when the military camp announced it today that this young man with only half a year of military service had already reached the same level as himself overnight. He hastily completed the task entrusted to him and rushed over without stopping his horse.

  At this moment, he wanted to speak but stopped, looking restless, and couldnt help but laugh in his heart. The fact that Xu Haifeng had asked for fine wine from the logistics department today had already spread throughout the camp within a short half-day. As one of the high-ranking officials of the logistics department, he had no reason not to know about it. Thinking back to yesterday when Xu Haifeng had entrusted him to buy fine wine as soon as he received his reward silver, and his super-heavy drinking capacity shown at the Drunken Moon Building last time, he was even more convinced in his heart that Xu Haifeng was a man who loved wine like his life depended on it.

  "Mr. Chen has already replied. Due to the low production of Drunken Moon wine, he simply cannot take out a hundred jars at once." Tong Yifeng said slowly and calmly.

  "Is that so? Its fine if I cant get it all at once, I just want to know how much hes willing to sell me?" Xu Haifeng furrowed his brow again. If he couldnt get this wine, then his next plan would be impossible to execute, and all his hopes would be nothing but a mirage.

  "Mr. Chen said that since its what General Xu wants, hell find a way to satisfy him no matter what. Originally, one jar of Drunken Moon wine costs 100 taels of silver, but Mr. Chen gave you a 50% discount, so it only needs 50 taels. However, Mr. Chen can only provide one jar per day, just enough for General Xu to get by with his drinking habit. What does General Xu think?" Tong Yifeng asked with a smile.

  "I see, then I must thank Old Man Chen. Ever since I tasted the flavor of Zui Yue wine last time, drinking other wines is like drinking plain water, completely tasteless. Thats why I wanted to buy more, so I can drink it anytime." Xǔ Hǎi Fēng explained.

  After chatting for a few sentences, Tong Yifeng made an excuse to leave. With the divine wine in hand, Xu Haifeng had no more worries and began his grand plan to train his troops.